Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Ayee   Producer: Johny Bakshi Director: Mahesh Bhatt Starring: Pooja Bhatt, Rahul Roy, Pooja Bedi Music: Anu Malik Lyrics: Kaifi Azmi, Qateel Shafai, Zameer Kazmi Singers: Alka Yagnik, Kumar Sanu, Pankaj Udhas, Sadhana Sargam Audio On: Tips    Number of Songs: 8 Reviewed by: Shahid Khan  - Rating: 9.0 / 10   Let us know what you think about this review

Anu Malik has always consciously attempted to balance his career output equally when it comes to composing soundtracks. He has created mass-pleasing albums such as “Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai”, “Biwi No. 1” and recent ones being “Khushi” and “Ishq Vishk”. He is shrewd enough to realize that there are listeners out there who demand a bit more inventiveness and originality from him and so we get soundtracks like “Border”, “Refugee”, “Saaya” etc. “Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Ayee” belongs to the latter category. The mellifluous music and inspiring poetry makes this an album that Malik must be especially proud of.

Kumar Sanu dominates the soundtrack and it is easy to see why. His rich voice is often full of heartfelt emotion that enhances the melody of Malik’s intricate tunes. Listen to his version of “Tere Dar Par Sanam Chale Aaye Hain” and you will know what I mean. This song is about a time that you miss a person’s companionship so much that you are prepared to walk all the way to their house to meet up, instead of pretending to bump into them in the middle of the street to save your pride. Even if that person avoids you or has not had the chance to see you lately, you are still willing to show how much you value them. “Tu na aaya to hum chale aaye… Chale aaye… Chale aaye” Sadhana Sargam drums up an angelic rendition in her separate solo version of the same track. But Sanu’s version is slightly superior due to his romantic conviction in the lines. It is as if he truly believes in what he is singing.

“Dil Main Sanam Ki Soorat” (Sanu, Alka Yagnik) is heaven for die-hard romantics. Who will not melt at the line, “Mere khuda mujhe tu ek aur zindagi de, Ek aur zindagi de…”. Surely most of us, if not all of us, can identify with the feeling of that moment where you are sublimely happy and so content. Then you recognize that life is so short and it is important to spend as much time as possible in the company of your loved ones. However even a lifetime is not enough and the lovers here ask for one more life to live. “Sau saal tak sanam ki aankhon main dhoob jaaoon”.

If you have a thing for songs that belong to the ‘question and answer’ genre then don’t forget to listen to “Baadalon Main Chup Raha Hai Chand Kyun?” (Sanu, Yagnik). Yagnik sounds so cute and compliments Sanu’s tender rendition. It is so sweet when they repeat after each other the following words, “Nigaah ladhkara gayi…”. The whole song arouses memories of a cool summer evening.

After all the optimistic love songs, comes quite a sad number, “Dil Deta Hai Ro Ro Duhai Kisise Koi Pyar Na Kare” (Yagnik). The song gives reasons as to why it is best to not fall in love. Hopes are raised but then they are dashed and break your heart. It does have a bitter overtone to it but that does not mean that the track is not pleasant to listen to. The lyrics and the singing are very effective. Yagnik certainly brings the song alive with her sensitive rendition. Pankaj Udhas sings a solo version of this. Unusually, he sounds quite nasal and it seems unnecessary to have this song repeated again. I love Udhas’s voice but I think his singing here is lackluster.

Now, if you think that you have heard the best of Yagnik on this album then think again. She is superb in “Shayerana Si Hai Zindagi”. The song is quite demanding on the vocals and Yagnik relishes the opportunity. The intro lends a soothing aura with its combination of music and the sound effect of a thunderstorm.

Sanu’s singing is the high point of “Aanewala Kal Ek Sapna Hai”, which is otherwise an above average track. I like it when his voice goes deeper in parts of the song: “Mere tan man ke armaan apne tan man se poocho”. A nice Sanu solo number but it pales in comparison to his piece de resistance, “Tere Dar Par Sanam Chale Aaye”.

The Bhatt producers have always known how to get the best out of music directors for their films. “Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Ayee” is a classic example of their great taste in music. The quality of the films has always been quite inconsistent (indeed this film is mediocre) but you can always count on them to have outstanding soundtracks.